Guide to Federal Records

General Records of the Department of Energy [DOE]


(Record Group 434)
1915-96 (bulk 1927-85)

Overview of Records Locations

Table of Contents
  • 434.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 434.2 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AND ITS PREDECESSORS 1946-71
  • 434.3 RECORDS OF THE DOE CENTRAL OFFICE 1927-96 (bulk 1960-85)
  • 434.3.1 Records of the Office of Public Affairs
  • 434.3.2 Records of the Office of Safeguards and Security
  • 434.3.3 Records of the Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves
  • 434.3.4 Records of the Office of Strategic Petroleum Reserve
  • 434.3.5 Records of the Office of Domestic and International Energy Policy
  • 434.3.6 Records of the History Division of the Office of the Executive Secretariat
  • 434.3.7 Other records
  • 434.4 RECORDS OF DOE FIELD OFFICES 1915-94
  • 434.4.1 Records of the Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
  • 434.4.2 Records of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
  • 434.4.3 Records of other field sites
  • 434.5 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL) 1948-82
  • 434.6 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
434.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: Effective October 1, 1977, by the Department of Energy Organization Act (91 Stat. 569), August 4, 1977, and EO 12009, September 13, 1977, consolidating functions formerly vested in the Energy Research and Development Administration, the Federal Energy Administration, the Federal Power Commission, and other agencies.

Predecessor Agencies:
  1. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and its predecessors:

    Manhattan Engineer District (MED), Office of the Chief of Engineers, War Department (1942-47)
    Atomic Energy Commission (AEC, 1946-74)

    Office of Coal Research (OCR), Department of the Interior (1960- 74)

    ERDA (1974-77)

  2. Federal Energy Administration (FEA) and its predecessors:
    1. In the Department of the Interior:

      Oil and Gas Division (1946-55)
      Office of Oil and Gas (1955-74)

      Oil Import Administration (OIA, 1959-71, functions to Office of Oil and Gas)

      Oil Import Appeals Board (OIAB, 1959-71)
      OIAB, Office of Hearings and Adjustment (1971-74)

      Office of Energy Conservation (1973-74)
      Office of Energy Data and Analysis (1973-74)
      Office of Petroleum Allocation (1973-74)

    2. Federal Energy Office (FEO) and its predecessors:

      National Energy Office, Executive Office of the President (EOP, 1973)
      Federal Energy Policy Office, EOP (1973)
      FEO (1973-74)

      FEA (1974-77)

  3. Other predecessors of the Department of Energy:
    1. In the Department of Commerce:

      Office of Energy Programs (1975-77)

    2. In the Department of the Interior:

      Bonneville Power Administration (1937-77)
      Southwestern Power Administration (1943-77)
      Southeastern Power Administration (1950-77)
      Alaska Power Administration (1967-77)

    3. Independent agencies:

      Federal Power Commission (FPC, 1920-77)


Functions: Administers and coordinates federal energy programs, including the nuclear weapons program. Engages in energy technology research and development. Markets power generated by federal hydroelectric projects. Promotes energy conservation.

Regulated petroleum imports under Presidential Proclamation 3279, March 10, 1959, until repeal by Presidential Proclamation 5141, December 22, 1983.

Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.

Related Records:
Record copies of publications of the Department of Energy in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
Records of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, RG 138.
Records of the Petroleum Administrative Board, RG 232.
Records of the Bonneville Power Administration, RG 305.
Records of the Atomic Energy Commission, RG 326.
Records of the Southwestern Power Administration, RG 387.
Records of the Energy Research and Development Administration, RG 430.
Records of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, RG 431.

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434.2 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AND ITS PREDECESSORS
1946-71


History: Oil and Gas Division established in Department of the Interior under authority of a Presidential letter, May 3, 1946, and Secretary of the Interior's implementing order, May 6, 1946. Responsible for unifying and coordinating federal petroleum policy for conservation and national petroleum security purposes. Redesignated Office of Oil and Gas, 1955.

Oil Import Administration established in Department of the Interior pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 3279, March 10, 1959, regulating importation of petroleum and petroleum products. Responsible for allocating imports and issuing import licenses. Merged into Office of Oil and Gas, October 22, 1971.

Oil Import Appeals Board established in Department of the Interior, also pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 3279, March 10, 1959, to hear petitions and appeals from persons affected by import regulations. Assigned to Office of Hearings and Appeals, Department of the Interior, December 23, 1971.

Office of Energy Conservation established in Department of the Interior by Secretarial Order 2953, May 7, 1973, to develop programs for energy conservation and more efficient utilization of energy resources.

Office of Energy Data and Analysis established in Department of the Interior by Secretarial Order 2953, May 7, 1973, to coordinate functions relating to gathering and analyzing energy data.

Office of Petroleum Allocation established in Department of the Interior by Secretarial Order 2956, November 6, 1973, to administer the petroleum allocation provisions of the Economic Stabilization Act Amendments of 1973 (87 Stat. 27), April 30, 1973.

National Energy Office established in Executive Office of the President by EO 11712, April 18, 1973, to advise the President on energy matters. Abolished by EO 11726, June 28, 1973, with functions transferred to Federal Energy Policy Office, EOP. Federal Energy Office, with independent agency status, established as successor to Federal Energy Policy Office by EO 11748, December 4, 1973.

Federal Energy Administration established as an independent agency, effective June 28, 1974, by the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 96), May 7, 1974, and implementing EO 11790, June 25, 1974, absorbing the Federal Energy Office; the Offices of Oil and Gas, Energy Conservation, Energy Data and Analysis, and Petroleum Allocation, Department of the Interior; and succeeding to the functions of the Department of the Interior with respect to allocation of petroleum imports and OIAB under terms of Presidential Proclamation 3279. FEA abolished, with functions transferred to DOE, 1977. SEE 434.1 and 434.3.

Textual Records: Central files of the Oil and Gas Division, 1946- 53. Allocation files of the Oil Import Administration, 1957-71.

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 434.3 RECORDS OF THE DOE CENTRAL OFFICE
1927-96 (bulk 1960-85)


History: In addition to incorporating FEA (SEE 434.2) and ERDA pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act, DOE absorbed the functions of the abolished Office of Energy Programs, Department of Commerce; continued the Bonneville, Southwestern, Southeastern, and Alaska Power Administrations, acquired from the Department of the Interior; and continued the formerly independent Federal Power Commission as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Office of Energy Programs had been established in the Department of Commerce by Department Organization Order 25-7A, effective September 24, 1975, to implement industrial energy conservation and utilization programs.

The Bonneville, Southwestern, Southeastern, and Alaska Power Administrations had been established in the Department of the Interior to promote water resource development and to market surplus power generated by federal hydroelectric projects: Bonneville Power Administration by the Bonneville Project Act (50 Stat. 731), August 20, 1937; Southwestern Power Administration, effective September 1, 1943, by Secretarial Order 1865, August 31, 1943, pursuant to EO 9366, July 30, 1943, and EO 9373, August 30, 1943; Southeastern Power Administration by Secretarial Order 2558, March 21, 1950; and Alaska Power Administration by Secretarial Order 2900, June 16, 1967.

The Federal Power Commission had been established as an independent agency by the Federal Power Act (41 Stat. 1063), June 10, 1920, to regulate interstate aspects of the electric and natural gas industries.

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 434.3.1 Records of the Office of Public Affairs

Textual Records: Press releases, speeches, and fact sheets ("Information Files"), 1973-79.

Photographs (59,420 images): Research activities of DOE and its predecessors; atomic weapons testing; energy sources and uses, including nuclear power; portraits of AEC commissioners and Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson, 1945-81 (SF, N, ND, NE; 54,900 images). Portraits of AEC commissioners and other officials of DOE and its predecessors; research staff; and prominent persons in government and the field of atomic energy, 1947-78 (PE, PN; 4,000 images). AEC research activities, 1960-63 (COP, CON; 520 images). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Motion Pictures (six 16mm reels): Network news documentaries relating to energy conservation policy development, 1974-77; films relating to technical fuel testing, 1982; publicity films for "Project Independence" national energy policy hearings, 1974; and Reserved for Tomorrow, a DOE film focusing on on the Strategic Oil Reserve program, 1977.

Video Recordings (67 items):

Press conferences held by President Jimmy Carter, Secretaries of Energy James R. Schlesinger and Charles W. Duncan, and other Department of Energy officials, 1977-80. Appearances by Schlesinger and Duncan at official DOE ceremonies and briefings, and on network news programs such as "Issues and Answers," "Face the Nation," and "Meet the Press," 1977-80. Lectures and interviews featuring various DOE employees, including doctors, administrators, and scientists, speaking about such subjects as nuclear waste disposal, radiation accidents, nuclear safety, and the design and development of nuclear reactors, 1983-86.

Sound Recordings (2 items):

Audiotape cassette recordings of "Face the Nation" interviews with Secretary of Energy James R. Schlesinger, 1977-78.

Color Slides (6,000 images): Energy sources and uses, 1965-80 (S). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Posters (59 images): Publicizing DOE programs and activities, for distribution during National Science and Technology Week and Energy Awareness Month, 1987-96 (P). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Finding Aids: Captions to series SF, N, ND, and NE.

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 434.3.2 Records of the Office of Safeguards and Security

Posters (59 images): Promoting safety and security awareness, 1983-93 (SP). SEE ALSO 434.6.

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 434.3.3 Records of the Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale
Reserves


Textual Records: Litigation files concerning Colorado River water rights, 1961-92. Statistical summaries and reports on oil and gas production in the naval petroleum reserves, 1927-62.

Maps (40 items): Thirty-nine maps relating to Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, Casper/Natrona County, WY (including "Teapot Dome"), and one map relating to Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, Point Barrow, AK, c. 1922-38.

Color Slides (730 images): Navy clean-up efforts at Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, Point Barrow, AK, 1969-76 (NPR). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Lantern Slides (27 images): Views of Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Elk Hills, CA; and graphs and maps relating to crude oil supply and demand, n.d. (LS). SEE ALSO 434.6.

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 434.3.4 Records of the Office of Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Photographic Prints (50 images): Views of six strategic petroleum reserve installations, 1978-80 (PR). SEE ALSO 434.6.

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 434.3.5 Records of the Office of Domestic and International Energy Policy

Textual records: Declassified national energy strategy subject files, 1987-93.

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 434.3.6 Records of the History Division of the Office of the
Executive Secretariat


Textual Records: File containing memorandums, transcripts of interviews, and news clippings, 1940-85, compiled in connection with a Department of Defense project to restore the McDonald Ranch House, Alamagordo, NM, assembly site of the first atomic bomb.

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 434.3.7 Other records

Textual Records: Research and development reports ("Intra-bureau Reports"), 1945-57, compiled by the Division of Interfuels Studies of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of the Interior, and transferred to DOE custody following abolition of the division in 1977 and transfer of its personnel to DOE. Report of the National Petroleum Council on petroleum storage and transportation capacities, 1979. Records of the Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research relating to the study of health and mortality among atomic energy workers ("Mancuso Study"), 1957-79. Records of the Office of the Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System (ANGTS), including reports to Congress and the President, 1979-92; legislation files, 1977-88; newsletters, press releases, publicity brochures and other general project information products, 1979-82; budget analyses and related documents, 1979-91; ANGTS "Eastern Leg" historical reports, 1982-84; and various compliance manuals, n.d.

Photographs (3024 images): Color prints (441), negatives (44), and slides (2539) produced by the Office of the Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System (ANGTS) to document various stages in the development of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, 1980-82, and to appear as illustrations in 1983 and 1984 ANGTS textual reports.

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 434.4 RECORDS OF DOE FIELD OFFICES
1915-94

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 434.4.1 Records of the Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID

Textual Records: Security-classified reports, laboratory notebooks, and logs, 1942-78. Legal correspondence of EG&G, Inc.,an ERDA contractor, 1946 and prior. Project planning and description files and master planning files, including interfiled as-built design drawings, relating to the construction of the nuclear reactor ("Borax Building") at the Idaho Falls branch of Argonne National Laboratory, 1953-80 (in Seattle).

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 434.4.2 Records of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

Textual Records (in San Francisco): Records originated and collected by Director Edwin McMillan, including correspondence, 1973-84; scientific notes, 1931-82; "crank file," 1927-84; daybooks and calendars, 1940-83; and research papers and published reports, including nuclear studies, 1920-84. Research records and correspondence of physicist Luis Alvarez, 1946-81. Records and correspondence of biochemist and Chemical Biodynamics Laboratory Director Melvin Calvin, 1960-77. Records relating to the Time Production Chamber Project, 1976-78. Records of the Scientific and Educational Advisory Committee, 1972-78. Operations logs and other records relating to the 184-inch cyclotron, 1946-87. Significant project planning and design files, 1941-87.

Photographs (4,525 images, in San Francisco): Laboratory buildings, equipment, scientists, and activities, 1915-84, collected by Director McMillan (1,525 images). Continuous tone prints of laboratory research, 1973-80 (3,000 images). SEE ALSO 434.6.

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 434.4.3 Records of other field sites

Textual records: Record set of publications documenting the history of the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, 1946-94.

Photographs (15,250 images): Construction, facilities, and community life at Manhattan Project sites, Oak Ridge, TN, 1942-46 (OR, ORN). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Posters (4 images): Promoting work site safety, Richland Operations Office, WA, ca. 1982 (RP). SEE ALSO 434.6.

Finding Aids: Shelf list to series OR and ORN.

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 434.5 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
1948-82


Public information films, produced or acquired by the Department of Energy and its predecessors, for distribution through the Technical Information Center, Oak Ridge, TN, and relating mainly to the peaceful uses of atomic energy, but including also such subjects as solar and geothermal energy, photosynthesis, nuclear materials safeguards and management, coal research, and nuclear weapons tests, 1948-82.

Subject Access Terms: Operation Crossroads; Operation Sandstone; Operation Greenhouse; Operation Longshot.

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 434.6 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)

SEE Photographs UNDER 434.3.1, 434.4.2, and 434.4.3.
SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 434.3.4.
SEE Color Slides UNDER 434.3.1 and 434.3.3.
SEE Lantern Slides UNDER 434.3.3.
SEE Posters UNDER 434.3.1, 434.3.2, and 434.4.3.

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Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

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This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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